Mark Legenza, Founder and Brewer, is convinced the perfect pint is best paired with live music and great friends. A third-generation Chicago native, Mark and his wife Amanda moved to Denver, Colorado in 2009 where he had a day job in operations management, perfecting the art of customer service and moonlighted as a homebrewer. He became obsessed with perfecting unique and delicious beer recipes in his nerdy, custom built mini-brewery.
During his eight years in Denver, Mark’s passion for home brewing grew and after advancing to the final rounds of the 2013 and 2015 National Homebrew Competition, Mark and Amanda agreed it was time to see the dream of On Tour Brewing become a reality. Together, they packed up their belongings and drove from Denver to Chicago to build his vision of a place where people can take a break and press pause over a cold, flavorful pint.
We appreciated that they were open fairly early on a Monday, as we had another event to attend in the area that afternoon. Hours: Mon-Thu 3-10pm, Fri 2-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-8pm.
They offer live music on a regular basis; check the website for the schedule. Brewery tours are available on the first and third Saturday of every month at 1pm; cost is $10 and includes 3 unique pours and a beer glass.
They had 11 beers on tap. The quality was quite impressive, and ranks among the highest in the entire Chicago area.
BEER:
Lightning Will German Pilsner - Sweet and malty pilsner; hop bitterness emerges in aftertaste; beautifully balanced -4.00
North Ontario Golden Rye Ale - Malty, chewy beer; rye character shines prominently; nice balance with hop bitterness -4.50
Lazy Lightning Berliner Weiss - Light-bodied Weisse; clear, not at all hazy; touch of tartness is near perfect -4.75
Drifting and Dreaming ESB (on nitro) - Medium-bodied English ale; caramel and roasted notes prominent; nitro delivery provides smooth and creamy texture -3.75
Grind Coffee Stout - Tremendous coffee character; big, bold, roasty stout; reminiscent of the Yeti beers from Great Divide -4.75
Backroads Belgian Golden Strong Ale - Incredibly smooth, sweet, Belgian ale; alcohol kick evident but not overpowering -5.00
Winterland Spiced Brown Ale - Highly complex variety of spices; medium-bodied; no significant hop bitterness -4.00
FOOD:
No food served, but food trucks visit on weekends. Check the website for details.
